Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-08-11
The Yelled Prophet.

He dreamed that he was already in st.
Louis and stood on the balcony of the
Southern Hotel, waiting for the process,
sion. The streets below snrged with
enthusiastic citizens. They all threw
| up their hats and shouted: Grover
Cleveland for 1SSSl'
1t sounded far off, as shouts do in
dreams. yet the welcome words were
distinctly Ineligible.
Then burst of music announced that
the head of the procession was nearing
the place were the President stood. The
guest of the city started back as if in
surprise. For it was not the rich blare
of a full brass band that he heard. but
the sharp staccato of flies and drums
playing soldiers march.
The crowd in the street separated
right and left. Left. leftl left leftr
came the measured tread of the march>
eTs, and the head of the mighty process
sion swept by.
President looked down the long line. but
not float or barge or an allegorical
tableua on the decorated wagon was in
sight. No maskers, no mummers. Moth
ing but men plainly dressed in blue.
most of them of middle age or beyond.
marching always in grim earnest to the
music of fife and drums.
The guest of the city turned indig>
nantly to the Chairman of tie Commit
tee on Entertainment, who stood just
behind him.
What does this mean? Is an insult
intended?
The committeeman shook his head nr
banely and put his fingers to bis lips.
Then he pointed down the line. 1t seem
ed to be endless.
Still they came, platoon after platoon.
Left! ieftl lefti leftr-a steady ,rhyth>
mic tread, punctuated now and then by
the clinking beckle of pair of iron.shod
cTutches.
Some of the marchers wore empty
coat sleeves pinned upon the breast.
Some of them marched with difficulty
None of them glanced up at the balcony
where the guest of the city stood They
moved straight onward, as if they were
marching to combat.
The President sighed. 1 did not know
there were SO many of them" he said.
On they came-'lefii left! left Ieftr-
thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds
Of thousands of Union veterans. And
every few minutes hoarse cheers went
up from the crowd of spectators that
lined the way. The cheers were no
longer for the man On the balcony or for
1888. They were for the bullet ridden,
tattered, ragged, and blood stained bat
tie flags that were borne by, and for the
memory Cf the battle years in the sixties
The minutes seemed hours to the
President, and the hours seemed an eter-
nifty. while he stood and reviewed the
grim paraders, who paid no heed to bis
presence. At last welcome sound re,
lieved his ears, weary of the monoto-
nous tranping. He heard the rumbling
of wheels. The Yelled Prophet some
body shouted; Here he domesl"
As the massive Car approached, drawn
by score of white horses, the cheering
below became continuous. The guest of
the city leanei over the baluStrade, the |
better to see the pageant. The car
was handsomely decorated with flowers
and bunting. On the summit of the |
construction stood d single figure, man
wearing as veil over his face the flag
of the United States.
The car stopped just opposite the no
tel entrance. The Prophet slowly re-
moved the veil that had concealed his |
features and stood face to fece with the |
President. He said nothing, but stretch
ed his arm forth and pointed with a most |
significant gesture to the long line of |
veterans ahead, their backs now all |
turned TO Grover Cleveland, all march>
ing steadily away from him into the
distance.
The President recognized the Yelled |
Prophet. 1T is George Brinski, my
substituted he murmured He turned
away and awoke. 1t had been a bad
dream.